Lesley was born in St. Paul, Minnesota. She holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from Lake Erie College with a Double Major in Equestrian Teacher/Trainer and Facilities Management, and a Minor in Business Administration. She is also certified Level 3 by the American National Riding Commission (ANRC).

Always continuing to expand her professional knowledge and personal riding skills, Lesley continues to lesson and clinic with other professionals as opportunity allows. Some of the professionals she has ridden with include George Morris, Greg Best, Mike Henegan, Emil Spadone, Frank Madden, Kevin Babington, Carol Thompson, and Stephan Peters.
Lesley continues to ride as many horses as she can, with the goal of learning something from each of them.

Growing up in Zone II, Lesley spent her junior years riding hunters and equitation throughout New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania. Lesley earned multiple year end awards with several horses throughout this time, capping her junior career with a trip to Maclay regionals in 1991. While attending Lake Erie College, her riding focus expanded to include jumpers, dressage and eventing, while continuing to show hunters and equitation.

While already talented as a rider, she discovered a knack for teaching while in college, leading her into a career as a rider, trainer and instructor. Since then, she has served in a number of roles in the equine industry including:

• Managing and instructing for several large lesson programs
• Taking students of various levels to horse shows
• Daily care and stable management for sale, boarded, in-training and personal horses
• Managing horse shows (schooling and IHSA levels)
• Judging horse shows (IHSA, 4-H, local schooling shows and C-rated hunter/jumper shows in NJ, OH and NC)
• Licensed judge for NCHJA
• Served as the Eastern Hunter Association Points Secretary and sat on the Board of Directors from 2003 - 2009.

Elfin Magic and Lesley (Pasquarelli) Jenks, 1987.

Between Friends and Lesley (Pasquarelli) Jenks showing in the ASPCA Maclay at Devon. Photo courtesy of Pennington Galleries, 1990.

Tiebreaker and Lesley (Pasquarelli) Jenks, Zone II Hunter Finals, 1993. Photo courtesy of James Leslie Parker.

Premier and Lesley (Pasquarelli) Jenks, Amateur/Owner Jumpers, Devon, 1994.

Second Hand Rose and Lesley Jenks. Photo courtesy of Bonnie McGee, 2003.